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Mundartliteratur - Dialect literature

Dialektliteratur or Mundartliteratur is characteristically composed in the dialect of a specific region instead of standard or High German.

In the early 20th century, Swiss poet Paul Haller wrote an epic poem and the first serious drama in a German dialect - in this case Swiss German. Austrian poet HC Artmann is well known for his poetry in Viennese dialect, and there is now a growing wave of 'Austro-Pop' music that emphasises the regional origins of the singers.

Above: HC Artmann during his acceptance speech on receiving the Grand Austrian State Prize for Literature in 1974. Photo by Wolfgang H. Wögerer.

HC Artmann also translated a volume from the famous French comic book series, Asterix, into Viennese dialect! Da Legionäa Asterix was published in 1999. Take a look at this video clip from a different Asterix story that is also in Viennese German.

And of course the Asterix books haven't just been translated into one Mundart - take a look at all the other dialects the comics are available in!

Mundartliteratur

Round 2

The Oxford German Olympiad's traditional second round of competitions is now open for entries - and H.C. Artmann is part of it! Have a go at writing a literary version of a poem by H.C. Artmann OR write a commentary. The competition is open to German learners in Yrs 12-13 (age 17-18) and undergraduates. Read the entry guidelines and the poems here. Submit your entry here. Good luck!

HC Artmann

The Austrian poet HC Artmann is probably most famous for his early poetry collection, which he wrote in Viennese dialect, although he also wrote a great deal in standard German. His collection, med ana schwoazzn dintn (meaning “mit einer schwarzen Tinte”/“with a black ink”), was published in 1958. Many of his Viennese poems are characterised by grotesque, sometimes morbid imagery and themes, like the poem in this link. He shows that poetry written in German dialects are far from "quaint" or less formally and thematically ambitious.

In the poem “kindafazara”, which deals with the subject of child abduction (a “Kinderverzerrer” is a person who “removes” – “verzerrt”– children) in the jocular sing-song of a counting rhyme, this contrast becomes particularly evident.

Have a go at reading the poem "kindafazara" - and then listen to HC Artmann reading it. Can you follow the words? Have a go at translating it into English!

*OGN is grateful to HC Artmann's widow, Rosa Pock, for generous permission to reproduce his poems.

kindafazara (Original)

(in High German)

kölaschdiang

kölaschdiang

dreimoi deafst rodn

ans zwa drei

ans zwa drei

wea duatn schded

met da zitrechn haund

met de zitrechn aung

dreimoi deafsd rodn

wea duatn hogt

met de zitrechn aung

met da zitrechn haund

kölaschdiang

kölaschdiang

da ma r an schen graunz flechtn!

ans zwa drei

ans zwa drei

drei glane granzaln

fia drei glane maln

auf da kölaschdiang

met da zitrechn haund

med de zitrechn aung

ans zwa drei…

kellertreppe, kellertreppe (Stiege = Treppe)

drei mal darfst du raten

eins zwei drei

eins zwei drei

wer dort steht

mit der zittrigen hand

mit den zittrigen augen

drei mal darfst du raten

wer dort sitzt

mit den zittrigen augen

mit der zittrigen hand

kellertreppe, kellertreppe

flechten wir einen schönen kranz

eins zwei drei

eins zwei drei

drei kleine kränzchen

für drei kleine mädchen

auf der kellerstiege

mit der zittrigen hand

mit den zittrigen augen

eins zwei drei

High German translation by Katharina Laszlo.

HC Artmann even discussed the nature of Mundartliteratur in his own dialect poetry. Have a listen to his poem "nua ka schmoez how e xogt!" - you can read the poem here.